Should People Without Kids Get Maternity Leave?

Should people without kids get maternity leave? At least one woman thinks so.

Meghann Foye doesn't have any kids, but still thinks she deserves all of the perks of maternity leave or "meternity" leave as she calls it. Is it just me or does that sound ridiculous?

The 38-year-old writer's new book "Meternity" spouts the idea that everyone deserves a few months off for maternity leave, even if they have never had kids. Umm, aren't those called vacation days? Not only does Meghann believe everyone deserves more "me" time, but she eludes to the idea that parents use their kids as an excuse to leave work, stating "There's something about saying, 'I need to go pick up my child' as a reason to leave the office on time that has far more gravitas than, 'My best friend got ghosted by her OkCupid date and needs a margarita,' but both sides are valid."

I get it, people have different priorities and who's to say which priority is more important than the other, but maternity leave? Really? Foye focuses on the idea that she is expected to work late because she doesn't have a family, while her co-workers can leave the office as soon as it's quitting time because they have to get home to their kids. Why doesn't she just not work late? It's really not that big of a deal. She's not trying to miss work, she's not slacking, so why doesn't she just leave like a normal person?

I really tried to empathize with Meghann, because I kind of get it. I'm 27, I work over 40 hours a week, and I would love to have more "me" time. But at the end of the day I'm the one choosing to work longer hours, I'm the one making the decision to take on extra work, I'm the one to blame. I can't feel sorry for this woman when she's pretty much bringing it on herself.

Yeah, it would be great if "sorry I'm late for work, but I'm so hungover" was just as legit of an excuse as "sorry I'm late for work, but my baby was up all night crying", but it's not, because we are adults and we need to make decisions as such.